Machiavellian Leadership: Power, Fear, and Manipulation
Chapter from the book:
Durmuş,
G.
(ed.)
2024.
Research on Leadership Dynamics II.
Synopsis
In this section, the Machiavellian leadership approach, which has a highly controversial place in leadership literature, will be discussed. This study aims to examine the concept of Machiavellian leadership in both theoretical and practical contexts, to understand how this leadership approach has found a place in the modern period, and to reveal the effects of Machiavellian leadership by evaluating existing field studies in the literature. Machiavellianism, which is essentially a leadership style that includes pragmatism, power-based control, and manipulation, can be summarized with the saying, "Everything is permissible on the way to the goal." This section will explain the historical roots of the Machiavellian Leadership concept through Niccolò Machiavelli's "The Prince." Afterwards, the development process of Machiavellian Thought will be discussed. Then, the sub-dimensions of this approach will be explained in depth for a better understanding of Machiavellianism. After presenting the historical process and conceptual meaning of Machiavellianism, the relationship of this concept with Leadership will be explained together with Machiavellian personality traits and leadership theories. Following all this, a review of field studies in the literature examining the effects of the Machiavellian Leadership phenomenon or its relationships with other phenomena will be conducted, and the findings of these studies will be analyzed. The conclusion section aims to provide a clear explanation of the concept of Machiavellian Leadership and evaluate its potential impact on future leadership theories and practices. By focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of Machiavellian leadership, it is aimed to contribute to leadership dynamics from a different perspective. It is thought that this study will be important in understanding the role of Machiavellian leadership in the increasingly complex modern world and the effects of this leadership style on organizational structures, employee psychology, and ethical values.